English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Hotwire is there, just not taught enough to be straight. Something will have to be done to make it taught enough to support pipe above ground. It need be only about 24" to make so dogs will be comfortable coming up to it.

Details will need to be worked out. Current culvert is hard to step over when carrying bags of feed. Could be a real giggle when a freezing rain hits.

 

[centrarchid]

Pup just did this.

Heard boy howl, almost crying. About 10 minutes later he came up to show his damage. Something dog walked in causing allergic reaction.

 

[ShrekDawg]

OUCH!

 

[centrarchid]

Dogs barking like mad at something in a location I can not get to north of property boundary. Lucy, Ben and Bella going nuts. Pup staying back out house. I just spent an hour out with rifle and spotlight trying to see what they are so riled about. It appears to be in a clump of Bradford Pears I cannot access. Lucy is going to wear herself out. When taking a break back tracking she went to poultry area and sniffed barn and north inner perimeter. Maybe more than one bad guy.

 

[centrarchid]

Found what dogs focusing on. Female cat with at least four kittens I estimate to be 4 weeks old in a small animal kennel just on other side of chain length fence. Even without harassment kittens will be lucky to survive the night owing to exposure. New neighbors moving and brought pets without proper housing.

Dogs confined for night. Neighbor will be advised in morning.

Too much stupid for one night.

 

[centrarchid]

Difficult to get sleep tonight. I went out with light to check for owl to see a Red Fox down by pens. I called Lucy out and she ran down to check which she did. The I ushered her back to pen expecting to deal with yet another baddy but the Coyote pack started howling close. Tonight the dogs will be kept in so Coyotes will be free to occupy area. The Coyotes are like Army Ants you welcome into your hut to clean out pests. Tomorrow we will push Coyotes out if they stay around which I doubt. Three predator types in a 24-hr period, whoo-hoo!

 

[centrarchid]

Fox was working area at same time dogs, and I, were distracted by cat with kittens. We were not even 100 yards away. I was back in house for nearly an hour before disturbing the fox scouring pen area for eats. Mice and voles abundant while rabbits move to keep hotwire between them and fox.

Chickens could see fox but made very little warning sounds. Moon full.
Time to switch over to using trap to get it promptly so I can sleep. Trap already in place under a bucket. Need to find volunteer bait bird. Pup needs to stay clear still.

 

[aart]

Female cat with at least four kittens I estimate to be 4 weeks old in a small animal kennel just on other side of chain length fence. Even without harassment kittens will be lucky to survive the night owing to exposure. New neighbors moving and brought pets without proper housing.

Geeezzzz....SMH.
Can't wait to hear the rest of that story.

 

[centrarchid]

Gotta harvest bass ponds today. Once the long day is over focus will be put over on to trapping. Based on photographs fox already works heavily the area where trap is set.

 

[centrarchid]

Raw Feeding with Road-killed Deer

Hit a deer last night with car. Busted up too much for culinary use. Letting dogs have a wack at it. Will allow the free-range birds at it as well. Kids learning how dogs are partial to certain parts. We will be keeping camera out to see who comes in while dogs are penned. Carcass will be move a bit to be further from house. Turkey Vultures to be sure will come, but Bald Eagle may make an appearance as well.